Hi. I'm Adam. I'm a historical researcher, amateur archaeologist, and am one of those "metal detector guys" and live in northern Alabama.

I've been working on a local history project and would like to know if anyone on this forum could help me with research links.

I'm looking to find info specifically related to iron and coal mining in Etowah county near the towns of Attalla, Gadsden, Gallant, Altoona and surrounding areas. Basically it's like this, there are old mines in the area, there are tales of old mines in the area, there are articles and stories and books with anecdotes about the local mines.

But getting anything substantial is like catching jello cubes with a tennis racket.

There is a ton of info on the Birmingham area coal and iron mines and the industry. But anything about mining out here has largely been forgotten. That's where my friends and I are trying to tell the story about the mining history of this area. I'm working with the local historical society and am working on putting together an exhibit when I'm done.

Nope, not on Hinds, I would like to see that mine though. That mine I posted and another that I don't have pictures of are in the Tabor community, right on Black creek. PM me your contact info and maybe we can get together and do some exploring.

_________________May all those who have gone before us have a carbide lamp with an eternal flame.

Ok I talked to a friend who know a guy that supposedly knows where the Hammond mine is located. I'm trying to get in touch with him. My friend talked to him yesterday and he said one entrance is still open and one is not.

_________________May all those who have gone before us have a carbide lamp with an eternal flame.

That's awesome, thanks. And that photo is like a lot that I've seen on southern mines, mule drawn carts and just a plain entrance. Although I've seen a few well built entrances in old photos of Attalla, Keener & Altoona.

The small mine on Hinds Rd is 60-70 yards from the old mill pond going up Towards Tabor Rd. We didn't go more than 20 feet or so as we didn't know how stable it was or if there were any rattlers denning in there.

Black damp is air that does not contain enough oxygen to support life. It is found in mines without proper ventilation. Fire damp is methane and is explosive. It is usually found at the face of the mine as it is released as coal is mined. The only way I could see fire damp being a threat to outside structures would be if they were worried about an ignition source near the exhaust for the ventilation system. Most small mines in our part of the world didn't have elaborate vent systems and relied on natural ventilation. Also fire damp is not a problem in metal mines.As far as location of buildings there is really no set standard for placement. The powder shack would have been far enough away to minimize damage should it go off. Not all mining companies/mines had commissaries and they would've been fairly far away from the mine so wives/children wouldn't be interfering with the mining operation. It would be the same with company housing.

Awesome pictures. I'd love to get together and have a look at the mines you know about on the mountain and I can take you to the ones I have found. It is interesting that they took as much bottom rock as they did working that small of a seam.

_________________May all those who have gone before us have a carbide lamp with an eternal flame.

The mine in the picture also has a small cave which is kinda weird, but I'm told by a county historian that it was used by at least a dozen families during the depression for free fuel or stoves etc.

I met an old lady who's uncle worked in another bigger coal mine nearby that gave a good description of it's location and layout. Apparently it was a man camp that had bunk houses and other structures as well as a railroad spur. The trees growing between the ties are huge.

During the depression poor people would come to the mountain and walk up black creek until they found an outcrop or abandoned mine. Then they would dig enough coal to fill a couple of toe sacks which they would sell in town. I'm sure folks that actually lived on the mountain did the same thing but probably more for their own use like you were saying.

_________________May all those who have gone before us have a carbide lamp with an eternal flame.

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